The Rising Threat of Mucormycosis: Oman's Experience Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Mucormycosis is a rare, severe fungal infection mainly affecting immunocompromised individuals. Because of limited data on its epidemiology in Oman, we present this national, multicentric, retrospective review that includes all cases of proven mucormycosis between 2006 and 2022 in Oman. There were 51 cases of mucormycosis reported in Oman.

Septic shock and fulminant hepatic failure secondary to Q fever in a child with sickle cell disease: First case report.

Q fever is a zoonosis with a worldwide distribution that is caused by the intracellular bacterium Coxiella burnetii. Although most infections in children are asymptomatic and self-limiting, some experience severe or chronic manifestations. Its manifestations in patients with sickle cell disease are unknown, as there are no reports currently.

Hypervirulent Capsular Serotypes K1 and K2 Strains Demonstrate Resistance to Serum Bactericidal Activity and Lethality.

Hypervirulent (hvKp) is a variant that has been increasingly linked to severe, life-threatening infections including pyogenic liver abscess and bloodstream infections. HvKps belonging to the capsular serotypes K1 and K2 have been reported worldwide, however, very scarce studies are available on their genomics and virulence. In the current study, we report four hypermucoviscous extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing hvKp clinical strains of capsular serotype K1 and K2 isolated from pus and urine of critically ill patients in tertiary care hospitals in Oman.

External quality assessment of laboratory performance in bacteriology in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, 2011-2019.

Background: Since 2007, national public health laboratories in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) have participated in a regional external quality assessment scheme in bacteriology to improve testing proficiency.

Aims: To assess laboratory performance in bacteriology in the EMR between 2011 and 2019 using the regional external quality assessment scheme.

Methods: We analysed the accuracy of participant-reported data in bacterial identification, Gram stain microscopy, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing.

The First Confirmed Pediatric Chronic Osteomyelitis due to in Oman.

We describe here the first confirmed case in Oman of chronic osteomyelitis due to in a previously healthy four-year-old Omani girl. After laboratory confirmation of infection using molecular and qualitative and quantitative serological assays, the case was successfully managed with a combination of oral ciprofloxacin and cotrimoxazole and thereafter followed up for a long period without remission.

Genomic analysis of the emerging carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae sequence type 11 harbouring Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC) in Oman.

Background And Objective: The presence of carbapenemase enzymes among Enterobacterales is the main mechanism to reduce susceptibility to a wide range of antibiotics. Carbapenemase enzymes such as the Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC) hydrolyse beta-lactam antibiotics group, which includes carbapenem, leads to fewer treatment options. We aim to describe the first report of carbapenem-resistant K.

Genomic analysis of the first cases of extensively drug-resistant, travel-related serovar Typhi in Oman.

Objectives: To highlight the importance of molecular testing in characterizing extensively drug-resistant (XDR) Typhi ( Typhi), and linking it to the current outbreak in Sindh, Pakistan.

Methods: Our study reports three travel-related typhoid fever cases caused by XDR Typhi that presented between January 2019 and August 2019. Antimicrobial susceptibility and genotyping with pulse-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) were carried out.

Laboratory Performance and Clinical Correlation of Real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction as a Diagnostic Test for Isolated from Patients in Oman.

Objectives: To evaluate real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) as a diagnostic tool for pertussis (whooping cough), vis-à-vis culture, the long-time gold standard, with emphasis on the importance of clinical correlation in determining specificity.

Methods: Nasopharyngeal/throat swab samples in charcoal media received from all over Oman at Central Public Health Laboratories from January 2014 to December 2016 were included in this study. These samples were tested using both culture and real-time PCR.

COVID-19-Associated Mucormycosis: An Opportunistic Fungal Infection. A Case Series and Review.

Background: A surge in COVID-19-associated mucormycosis cases has been observed during the second wave of COVID-19 in summer of 2021. Most cases were reported from India. The Delta variant (B.

Septic Arthritis of the Knee Joint: Report of a Third Imported Case in Oman.

Melioidosis is a severe disease that can affect humans and animals. It is caused by which is an environmental aerobic gram negative bacteria. Despite being endemic in Southeast Asia and Northern Australia, many cases have been reported from different regions, including the Middle East.

Validation of GeneXpert testing for SARS-CoV-2 RNA in eight hospital laboratories in Oman.

In response to the current COVID-19 pandemic, numerous commercial assays have been developed for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 for use in the clinical diagnostic laboratories. To date, there is limited comparison of testing methods performed in different hospital laboratory sites. The aims of the study were to evaluate the analytical performance of Cepheid Xpert Xpress SARS-CoV-2 when compared to RT-PCR.

Evaluation of Four Rapid Antigen Tests for Detection of SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Objectives: Considering the increasing, significant burden that coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) imposes on the healthcare system, the need for simple, rapid, and affordable diagnostic tests to support the existing costly and demanding polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay becomes required. This prospective diagnostic test accuracy study aims to evaluate the performance of four different COVID-19 rapid antigen tests compared to real-time reverse transcription PCR (rRT-PCR) between June and July 2020 to determine the feasibility of integrating these tests into the diagnostic algorithm in clinical settings.

Methods: Swabs were collected from 306 patients and analyzed using rRT-PCR and antigen tests from four different providers.

Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in the general population of Oman: results from four successive nationwide sero-epidemiological surveys.

Objective: To assess the seroprevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) in Oman and longitudinal changes in antibody levels over time within the first 11 months of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Methods: This nationwide cross-sectional study was conducted as a four-cycle serosurvey using a multi-stage stratified sampling method from July to November 2020. A questionnaire was used and included demographics, history of acute respiratory infection and list of symptoms, COVID-19 contact, previous diagnosis or admission, travel history and risk factors.

Community Foodborne of Outbreak at Northern Governorate, Sultanate of Oman.

Objectives: To investigate the course of a community gastroenteritis outbreak by and implement interventional activities and roles to prevent occurring such an outbreak in the future.

Methods: From August 27 to 2 September 2015, 101 individuals were reported among a local community. All affected individuals had a history of food consumption at a local restaurant.

Characteristics, Risk Factors, and Survival Analysis of Cases: Results of One-Year National Surveillance Data from Oman.

Background: () is an emerging healthcare-associated pathogen resulting in significant morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study is to report data from the national surveillance system for 2019 and conduct a survival analysis of the reported cohort.

Methods: a retrospective analysis was conducted for all cases reported nationally to the Oman Antimicrobial Surveillance System (OMASS) in 2019, and isolates were sent to the Central Public Health Laboratories (CPHL).

Ongoing Challenges with Healthcare-Associated Candida auris Outbreaks in Oman.

Candida auris has emerged in the past decade as a multi-drug resistant public health threat causing health care outbreaks. Here we report epidemiological, clinical, and microbiological investigations of a C. auris outbreak in a regional Omani hospital between April 2018 and April 2019.

Serotype distribution and antibiotic resistance among invasive Streptococcus pneumoniae from Oman post 13-valent vaccine introduction.

Objective: This study was undertaken to determine the serotype distribution and drug susceptibility patterns in pneumococcal isolates recovered from patients with invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD).

Methods: All invasive pneumococcal isolates received between June 2014 and June 2016 were included in the study as part of a national laboratory-based IPD surveillance program. Isolates recovered from clinical specimens of normally sterile body sites were included.